Narrow Gauge Railroad Discussion Forum

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The following does not fall under the category of individual projects, but I feel it doesn't hurt to expand a little to new projects. I and others have alluded to a locomotive project being planned in Maine and being assisted by some of us here in Pennsylvania (sort of a Ma & Pa project--I couldn't resist that).

I will not mention names, but they can chime in and talk about their part if they so desire. The WW&F Railway and Museum is planning to build a replica of WW&F #7, which will be numbered #11. It will be slightly smaller than the photo of B&SR #7 which has been at the bottom of these pages for the last few days. This project is on the back burner as far as the museum is concerned until #9 has been fully restored and running. Many drawings have been made, much of the engineering is in place, and several of us have been working not so quietly in the background to get it moving along.

I recently mentioned it rather subtly on this forum and got very little or no response at all. I see people wishing about nearly impossible projects like rebuilding the RGS, and building a NYC Hudson, but here we have one in place, it isn't huge, and there is a place to run it and no one even really cares beyond the few who are working on it. It even has its own web site (build11.org). This was mentioned by another volunteer a while back on this forum.

Since 2006 I have made several foundry patterns--bell bracket, lead wheel center, lead driver center, and main driver center. I am starting the cranks. Wayne Laepple and myself paid to have the bell bracket cast and I finished it and a diesel bell to use for a display at the museum to attract interest and funding for the project. The lead truck center pattern was used to pour 6 castings, 4 of which were used for the Model T railbus (now operating), and 2 for the lead truck wheel assembly which is finished with tires and pressed on an axle. Pictures of most of this stuff can be seen on the WW&F Forum. If I knew how to post pictures here, I would do it. Another volunteer machined the lead truck axle and the crankpins. He would probably be doing more if the materials could be gotten to him.

I have no idea how long it will take to finish this project, but it is going to take more volunteers and much more money to get it done, but it is STARTED and moving along slowly. For all you computer dreamers, out there, get away from your keybords, at least for a while, and help in some way to keep this going.